The Storm Is Coming

Ling's breakthrough to Kage level brought a subtle change to his position in the Hidden Leaf Village. That morning, just after he finished training, he was urgently summoned to the Hokage's office.

Pushing open the heavy wooden door, Ling found that all of the Hidden Leaf Village's higher-ups had already gathered in the office. Tsunade stood by the window with a grave expression. Kakashi, Jiraiya, Shikaku Nara, and the others were all present, and even Shimura Danzo, whom he had not seen in a long time, sat in the corner with a gloomy face.

"You came at just the right time." Tsunade turned and pushed an intelligence scroll onto the desk. "The Anbu just sent back urgent news. The Akatsuki Organization has successfully captured eight tailed beasts."

The meeting room erupted at once. Jiraiya shot to his feet. "Eight? How could it be this fast!"

"According to the intelligence, the Akatsuki Organization deployed all of its core members." Tsunade pointed at the markers on the map. "Yugito Nii of the Hidden Cloud Village, Roshi of the Hidden Stone Village, Utakata of the Hidden Mist... all the jinchuriki were captured within a short period of time."

Ling noticed the worry hidden deep in Tsunade's eyes. As the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, Naruto had become the Akatsuki Organization's final target.

Shikaku Nara quickly analyzed the situation. "If they gather all nine tailed beasts, the consequences will be unimaginable. We must immediately formulate a countermeasure."

"I've already sent urgent requests for aid to the other ninja villages," Tsunade said in a deep voice. "But distant water can't put out a nearby fire. Before reinforcements arrive, we can only rely on ourselves."

Danzo suddenly spoke. "Rather than defend passively, we should take the initiative. While the Akatsuki Organization has yet to fully master the tailed beasts' power, we should strike first."

"That's too risky," Kakashi countered. "We know nothing about the locations of the Akatsuki Organization's bases."

"No, we do." Ling suddenly spoke up. In the system's map function, several important bases of the Akatsuki Organization had been clearly marked.

Everyone's eyes focused on him. Tsunade pressed, "You know the locations of the Akatsuki Organization's bases?"

"Through some special sensing from the Sharingan." Ling vaguely brushed past the topic and directly pointed out several coordinates on the map. "The Land of Rain, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Hot Water all have their bases. But the most important stronghold is here—"

His finger landed on a remote valley on the map. "This place is giving off the strongest tailed-beast chakra."

[Detected location of the Gedo Statue]

[Coordinates: 50 kilometers north of the Valley of the End]

The system's prompt confirmed Ling's judgment. The meeting room fell into a brief silence, every person digesting this shocking intelligence.

Jiraiya was the first to break the quiet. "If the intelligence is accurate, we must act immediately."

"But to deal with an enemy possessing the Rinnegan, we need to draw up a meticulous plan." Shikaku Nara had already begun running through tactics on paper.

The meeting lasted a full three hours. In the end, it was decided that Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Ling would form an advance squad and head out to confirm whether the intelligence was true. The main force, under Tsunade's command, would remain ready to provide support at any time.

After the meeting ended, Tsunade called Ling back alone and handed him a specially made kunai. Exquisite Flying Thunder God formulas were engraved on the kunai, and it gave off familiar chakra fluctuations.

"This is a Flying Thunder God kunai left behind by Minato." Tsunade's voice carried nostalgia. "At a critical moment, it can save your life."

Ling solemnly took the kunai. The instant he touched the formula, the system's notification rang out:

[Detected Fourth Hokage chakra imprint]

[Flying Thunder God Technique analysis increased to 65%]

[Obtained special ability: Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder]

This unexpected gain made Ling's confidence soar. Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder was Minato Namikaze's unique secret technique, capable of instantly transferring an enemy's attack away.

That night, Ling tested his newly obtained ability at the training ground. With the system's assistance, his mastery of the Flying Thunder God grew more and more proficient. The kunai traced golden arcs through the air, and his figure flickered continuously through space.

"Still not enough..." Ling felt the surging chakra within his body. "I have to reach Teacher Minato's level."

Just as he was about to continue training, a violent explosion suddenly came from the distance. Immediately afterward, the system's warning rang out wildly:

[Detected Rinnegan chakra]

[Target: Six Paths of Pain]

[Location: Eastern District of the Hidden Leaf Village]

Ling's expression changed sharply. The Akatsuki Organization had actually taken the initiative to attack!

"Flying Thunder God Technique!"

Space twisted, and Ling instantly appeared at the scene. The sight before him made his heart tighten: the Six Paths of Pain were surrounding and attacking Naruto, while many Hidden Leaf Village ninja had already fallen around them.

"Almighty Push!"

With a lift of Deva Path Pain's hand, a powerful repulsive force sent Naruto flying. Ling caught him in time, his Sharingan fixed tightly on the enemies ahead.

"Another one has come." Deva Path Pain's face was expressionless. "Uchiha Ling, the Akatsuki Organization still welcomes your joining."

"In your dreams." Ling shielded Naruto behind him. "Today is the day you meet your end."

Animal Path Pain summoned a giant centipede, while Human Path silently slipped into the shadows. Preta Path began absorbing the surrounding chakra, and Naraka Path summoned the King of Hell for judgment.

Ling used the Flying Thunder God to teleport continuously, weaving among the Six Paths of Pain. But the Rinnegan's abilities exceeded imagination; every attack was easily neutralized.

"It's useless." Deva Path Pain raised his hand. "Before the power of a god, all resistance is futile."

An even stronger Almighty Push came crashing in, forcing Ling to retreat. Just then, the system's warning sounded again:

[Detected Gedo Statue summoning]

[Ten-Tails revival countdown: 3 hours]

In the distance, the enormous Gedo Statue slowly rose, letting out a roar that shook the sky. The Akatsuki Organization's final plan had finally begun.

Ling knew he could not hold back anymore. He drove his Sharingan with all his strength. The double tomoe began evolving into triple tomoe, and the chakra within his body surged at unprecedented speed.

"So this is... the true power of Kage level..."

Under the pressure of life and death, he finally took the most crucial step. But facing the Ten-Tails that was about to revive, this battle had only just begun.

(End of Chapter Forty-Five)